Have you ever wondered why certain smells trigger childhood memories? What about how your body can navigate in the dark? Researchers at the University of North Texas Health Fort Worth want to unpack how the brain pulls off those sensory feats through a new research center.
On Thursday, the university unveiled its Sensory Research Institute aimed at deepening scientific understanding of how the senses shape how people perceive and communicate — and how sensory changes can affect quality of life.
“With [the Sensory Research Institute], we will map the human sensory system functions. By decoding the profound language of sound, touch and scent, we are uncovering the hidden mechanics that govern how life engages with the physical world,” Dimitrios Karamichos, vice president of research and graduate studies at UNT Health, said in a news release.
Dimitrios Karamichos is the vice president of research and graduate studies at UNT Health Fort Worth.
Joyce Marshall / UNT Health Fort Worth/Joyce Marshall
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The human body relies on a sensory network in which the nervous system receives and integrates signals from organs, such as the ears, eyes and tongue, as well as sensors throughout the body detecting things like pressure, temperature and balance.
When that system is working well, it helps people move through the world without thinking much about it. But when it’s disrupted, the effects can show up in everyday life — and in conditions like autism spectrum disorder and in medical disorders such as fibromyalgia and Parkinson’s disease.
“This institute reflects our mission to improve health and well-being through research that deepens understanding of the human experience,” Dr. Kirk Calhoun, UNT Health president, said in the news release. He added that by bringing together experts from across disciplines at UNT Health, the Sensory Research Institute hopes to move its discoveries out of the lab and into everyday care for patients in North Texas and beyond.
Miriam Fauzia is a science reporting fellow at The Dallas Morning News. Her fellowship is supported by the University of Texas at Dallas. The News makes all editorial decisions.